Welcome to our latest update of information and stories you may be interested in... We are looking forward to seeing you on Monday and Tuesday at our all staff conference. It is going to be an awesome event of sharing and learning. Jane. 
Final Conference Update Welcome to the ninth and final Conference update! Just a couple more days until conference so ensure you are familiar with the finer details below: Conference Information for Monday 9thJuly: Conference opens at 8.30am for Etu Ao TONI Educators, Community Navigators, Transport Team, Administrators and Teachers Aides. Registration for teachers and kindergarten based students opens at 11.30am in the Angus room. Please come and enjoy the Tuatau tamataora ‘Time to enjoy music or entertaining’ in Amokura from 12.15pm. The All Staff Meeting begins at 1.00pm in Amokura. Monday 9thJuly: Afternoon break (2.30pm to 3.00pm) Given the short timeframe please note that we willnotbe serving refreshments. Therefore, this is the perfect time to enjoy the water and snacks in your Conference bag! Monday 9thJuly: Evening Drinks and Nibbles These will be served in Oceania from 5.15pm. Please note that for all alcoholic drinks there is a $2.00 charge. Please ensure you have $2.00 coins to use as there is no eftpos facilities available. Non-alcoholic drinks will be free of charge. Monday Night Conference Dinner from 6.30pm (optional) The venue for this year’s Conference Dinner will be at Mac’s Brew Bar which is located at the start of Taranaki St on Wellington's beautiful waterfront. The cost of the dinner is $35 and the menu can be viewed here. (Please note that attendance at the dinner is at the participants’ own cost). If you want to go to the dinner and have not yet let Hannah know please email her at hannah.toomaga@wmkindergartens.org.nz. Conference Information for Tuesday 10th July Arrival from 7.30am. Registration desk will be open in Angus room. Tea and Coffee available in Oceania from 7.30am to 8.00am. Please can everyone be seated in Amokura by 8.10am ready for the opening of the Conference by the Kapa Haka performance at 8.15am. Car Parking There will be a reduced parking rate at Te Papa if you are able to find a park there. You will need to bring your carpark ticket to the conference Reception Desk and scan it through the machine. However, please note that it is term break and parking can be tricky at Te Papa during this time so please give yourself plenty of time to park your vehicle. See you on Monday!
Toru Fetū Wins Major Award This Week Toru Fetū has won a prestigious Prime Minister’s award for excellence in education, because of its engagement with families. The award was presented in the banquet hall in parliament this week, and is a testament to all the hard work of staff and families at Toru Fetū, and the Whānau Manaaki staff who support the kindergarten. Caroline Mareko, who has been involved with Toru Fetū since the beginning, says the win celebrates the founding members of Toru Fetū and who made the dream come true, with the support of the kindergarten association. “It acknowledges the hard work of the staff, the children and the families” says Caroline. “Everyone has fufilled and is continuing to fufill the dream for the children, the Niuean, Cook Island and Tuvaluan communities, and the wider community of Porirua.” Toru Fetū wins $20,000 for winning the award, on top of $6,000 for being a finalist in two categories. Here’s a link to a short video about the kindergarten, made as part of the award. 
Carrying The Tapa 1 And 2 PLD (Combined 2 Hour Session) Following the introduction of the PLD Setting the Compass at Regional Meetings this term please find the following information for the Carrying the Tapa 1 and 2 PLD workshops in Term 3. If you have not attended this PLD please enrol into one of the sessions below on HR.Net. Please note that you are required to complete Carrying the Tapa 1 and 2 before you are able to enrol into the Setting the Compass: Turu 1 PLD in Term 4. - 26th July – Kāpiti and Horowhenua (venue to be confirmed) - 3.30 to 5.30
- 30th July - Toru Fetu and Nuanua teams at Toru Fetu Kindergarten - 5.30 to 7.30
- 1st August – Upper Hutt (venue to be confirmed) - 3.30 to 5.30
- 2nd August City North (venue to be confirmed) - 3.30 to 5.30
- 6th August Porirua (venue to be confirmed) - 3.30 to 5.30
- 9th August Waiarapa – (venue to be confirmed) - 3.30 to 5.30
- 13th August City South (venue to be confirmed) - 3.30 to 5.30
We look forward to seeing you there!
Appraisal 2018-2019 The new condensed Appraisal Kit is available now by clicking here. - The forms have been updated with cycle dates at the top of the page
- The Appraisal Goal Action Plan has been adjusted to format your one goal
- Included is the Matrix resource aligning Standards for the Teaching Profession with the Practising Teacher Criteria and Tātaiako: Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners
- Resources, forms and the Appraisal Kit is available on the Teachers Toolbox
The Beginning of the Appraisal Process: - An Annual Appraisal meeting will take place between you and your appraiser by the 29.08.2018 (as shown in the Curriculum Framework). The final appraisal meeting, review of portfolio and new goal setting will need to be completed by 31 August 2018
- For Relieving Teachers: The Relievers Annual Appraisal Meeting will take place in Term 3 and dates and venues will be published in the online Korero Magazine and the Professional Learning and Development Calendar.
Timesheets And Returns For End Of Term Please can you send in all timesheets and staffing returns by 9am on Friday 6th July (for the week ending that day). With Conference next week and term break for a number of our kindergartens we need these all in by tomorrow. Thank you!
100 Per Cent Funding Is The Government’s Highest Priority In ECE, Says Minister Education Minister Chris Hipkins has said his government’s highest priority in early childhood education is restoring the funding for 100 per cent qualfied teachers. He says the government is committed to introducing this during the current term and it will either be in next year’s budget or the following year. The commitment was included in a half hour live facebook session organised by the Education Council when questions from teachers were put to the Minister. He also spoke about ending the free market in early education, so that new centres cannot open to compete with existing centres as a matter of course. And he spoke about improving ratios in time, and the need to make sure there are enough teachers to meet new ratios. You can hear more from the Minister when he attends our full staff meeting on Monday. Here’s a link to the wide ranging interview with the Minister, which includes solutions to the teacher shortage, Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORs) funding, bullying and wellbeing, compulsory te reo Māori and the desirability of dogs in schools.
Upcycling Challenge In Korero, we would like to run an upcycling challenge - send us photos of transformations you have made at your kindergarten! Here’s one from Kahurangi Kindergarten where a dresser has been reused as a doll’s house. Email suggestions and photos to korero@wmkindergartens.org.nz. 
Closed For Good   Closed for Good is the largest corporate volunteering day in New Zealand. BNZ are very aware that financial literacy is an important area where they can make a difference. With help from kindergarten associations, high schools, and retirement villages, they’ve developed interactive tools to help these three key audiences increase their financial literacy in ways that are relevant to them. Between the ages of three to five, children are establishing their knowledge of a need versus a want, and starting to understand exchanging things of value. Their interactive storybook Penny the Penguin has been designed to help kindergarten-aged children learn these concepts in a fun and educational way. On Wednesday 8th August BNZ staff will be running storytelling sessions in kindergartens and communities throughout New Zealand guiding children through the story. And, if you’d like BNZ staff to visit your kindergarten please apply here through Closed for Good site. Applications close on Friday 6th July. The BNZ team look forward to visiting and sharing their financial know how with you and your children on Wednesday 8th August!
Production Line For Conference Things have been busy in the office as we get ready for conference. On Wednesday the team spent some time packing over 700 conference bags. 
This Week On Facebook  
Discovery had a party! Celebrating, Amy & Lima's upcoming wedding, our new teacher Erin starting, Matariki, farewell to our office administrator Nicki! 
Matariki received their bronze enviroschools plaque.
"Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua.
Care for the land, care for people, go forward." 
Masterton West harvested and shared their own mandarins!
Katoa Goes On An Excursion Katoa Kindergarten had a great trip on Friday 29th June to Tapaere Nui Te Auaha (Whitireia Dance Academy). The children got to see the students perform a show with Maori, Samoan, Cook Island and New Zealand contemporary dance. This was a great experience for the children and an opportunity for them to see the different cultural dances and to join in. When the show had finished the students came and said hi to all the children, which the children loved! Katoa kindergarten would definitely recommend this experience to all. 
Our Kindergartens Celebrate Matariki! 
Lansdowne celebrated Matariki with a performance and lunch with whānau. 
Maraeroa celebrated with sparklers after a fabulous shared dinner.
For Sale Tai Tamariki have the following items for sale. If you are keen let the team know. You could always pick the items up while you are at conference.   
$200 good condition. $150 some fading on top. $80
Appointments And Resignations Congratulations to the following on their recent appointments: | Sarah Bulman | Teacher | Brooklyn | | Jane Hutchinson | Teacher | Doris Nicolson | | Abby Onnes | Teacher | East Harbour | | Paula Thompson | .5 Teacher | Karori | | Mandy Wilson | Teacher | Katoa | | Sam Bielak-White | Teacher | Matariki | | Angela Stobo | .6 Teacher | Tawa Central | | Saulelei Tinielu | Teacher | Waitangirua | | Louisa Glenny | Administrator | Discovery | | Sharee MacDonald | Itinerant Reliever .75 | WMK |
We wish all the best to the following who have resigned: | Melissa Smithyman | Teacher | Karori | | Hilary Warman | .8 Teacher | Wellington South | | Bronwyn Carson | .5 Teacher | Totara Park |
Hot Tip  The place to be on Monday is Te Papa!!! 
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